Good Bye 2008!

Dear 2008, you have been good to me!
In 2008
I learnt that when I stand up I can walk far, and even run.
I learnt that there are other little people like me that I can play with.
I learnt that milk can come from multiple sources.
I learnt that there's food other than milk.
I learnt that I can eat the food with my hands, or with utensils called fork and spoons.
I learnt that I can see myself in the mirror.
I learnt that I have a shadow.
I learnt that balls can be kicked and thrown.
I learnt that I can ride little cars.
I learnt that I can say words that mommy and daddy say too.
I learnt that I love to sing and dance.
I learnt that I am a party animal like mommy.
I learnt that when I ride on airplanes, I get to see people I love that I don't usually see.
There are so many things I learnt this year, in 2008, but most importantly, I learnt that spending time with great-grand parents, grandpas grandmas, grand uncles, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and my little friends, is the happiest time for me in 2008.



Now, I would like to chill on this new chair (thanks auntie Irene!) and say, good bye 2008!!

Happy Holidays to you all!

Merry Xmas!!

我們的2008是充滿旅遊的一年.

五月初Mommy and daddy 帶著十個月大的我去了台灣看親朋好友, 也幫表姐Annabelle 慶祝一歲生日. 接著和奶奶遊玩香港, 又坐船到大陸廣東拜訪了曾祖父母的鄉下老家. 一路跋山涉水的我不哭不鬧, 很乖巧又討人喜歡. 回美國後便又飛去了Louisiana州參加Tammy表姨的婚禮, 接著又去令一個表姨Tricia於San Francisco的婚禮,順便和Enzo表哥去採草莓. 一歲剛過的我剛剛學會走路後更愛出門了. 九月去了溫哥華參加小阿姨的訂婚宴, 與 Annabelle 玩的不亦樂忽. 又跑又笑的兩個小朋友讓大家每天忙得焦頭爛額卻心滿意足.

現在的我已17個月大.最高興是有親朋好友來看我或帶我出門. 只有六顆牙的我愛吃青菜水果, 最喜歡 ‘wua wua’ (畫畫) 及 ‘tan chin’ (彈琴), 也愛跟在媽媽屁股後面拿著小水桶澆花. 現在會講大概50-60個單字, 有英文, 中文及廣東話, 例如 Bird, Orange, Blue, Please, 鴨鴨, 嬤嬤, 爺爺, 阿嬤, 還要, 帽帽, etc. 興致好時還會跟著念整個ABC呢!!

希望有天你們也能來和我一起過聖誕.

祝 聖誕快樂! 新年如意!

Eddy, Victoria & Amber
天麟, 千琪, 梓琳

Amber's Victory Dance :)

Whenever we praised Amber, she will do a 'Victory dance'. Can you do it? ;)

Amber and Santa

Amber using Santa as a learning prop :)

Glamorous Amber

I found some beads in mommy's closet of treasures. I think I'm ready for Mardi Gras!

Last weekend I got some sunglasses from my cousin. Coupled with the white jacket from grandma and the shiny red shoes from mommy, I think I'm ready for Glamor Hollywood.

Amber's Hide and Seek

I love to play hide and seek whenever I'm in mommy and daddy's closet. Check out my hiding skills!

Little Miss Pumpkin

My 1st Trick or Treat - Miss Pumpkin 2008

Aunt Tracy's wedding

Mommy's bridesmaid Tracy got married in a beautiful yacht in Newport Beach, and I got to wear my pretty green dress. I was not as pretty as the bride, but I think I looked kinda cute?

Amber's 1st solo train ride

At Sean and Sam's 5th bday party, Amber went on a solo train ride for the first time - she loved it so much she went around 3 times before letting us take her off

Amber's Apple Tree

Mommy and daddy planted an apple tree for me. Mommy and daddy can watch the tree grow with me. I can't wait to pick fruits next year!!

Don't mess with me!

See what a little food on your hair can do?!

Awesome Vancouver trip

Auntie Carina is getting engaged in September, so mommy's whole family flew back to Vancouver to celebrate. This means I get to see my dear cousin Annabelle again!! I missed her so much! We had an awesome time eating apples from grandma's garden, seeing real horses in Stanley park, swimming in Harrison Hot Springs (beach resort) warm pool, chasing bubbles on Grouse Mountain, visiting mom's old friends in Seattle, and of course, attending Auntie Carina and Uncle John's engagement! Not to mention enjoying all the love and attention I got from my favorite aunties!

Oh oh, and I've learned a new word from Annabelle - 'BUBBLE', I can say it so well!
Oh oh, and I've learned a new move - turning in circles!
Oh oh, and mommy says I was being a bully to Annabelle so she's scared of me, but I was just trying to be friendly since I missed her so much...

and now, I miss everyone already...

14 months old

Today I am 14 months old.

Mommy tried to take a good picture of me, but I was kind of down because I just had roseola so I look kind of unhappy, but really, I just wasn't myself that day.

So let's make this quick:
I am 29 3/4" tall, 19.5 lb. (I lost 1 full pound because of Roseola!)
I can walk really well, in fact, I think I can run :)
I only go poo in the toilet - that's also my book reading time.
I can put things back to where they belong, if I am asked to.
My 2 top teeth are half way showing now.
I still drink mommy's milk - direct! I dislike bottles - straight up refuse them. Except I sometimes have no choice when I am at daycare.
I am eating a lot of regular table food now, like broccoli, tofu, carrots, chicken, rice, pasta, cheese, etc. Grandma would make me chicken broth from scratch and mommy would cook all of the above in the chicken broth. yummy!
I also love bananas and peaches and grapes.
I love to draw.

Anyway, I am excited that I am going to Vancouver! Gotta go change and catch a plane! See ya!!

I had roseola

On Sunday night, mommy thought my body felt really hot when she was changing me, but grandma said that's because I've been running around and playing at Great-Grandma's house.

Sure enough, on Monday, I had a fever, which lasted 3 days. Mommy and Daddy were worried because we were leaving for Vancouver on the weekend. This was the first time I had a fever since birth, so mom was kind of freaking out.

Luckily my fever went down by Thursday morning. Mommy thought all was good, when she discovered some red rashes on my body and neck. After some research and talk with the nurses on the phone, she determined it was Roseola, a.k.a. baby measles, it's caused by a virus that's contagious between little babies like me (before 3 year old). I think it must be some kids at the Grove that gave it to me, since I was playing there on Sunday.

Mommy forgot to take a picture of my rash, but since my cousin Annabelle had it a few months ago, here is a picture of her rashes. Mine look just like hers, except mine appeared mostly on my body.

Here's some summary info mommy wants to share with other parents out there:
Disease Name - Roseola, or Baby Measles
Symptoms - 3 days of fever, followed by non-itching red rash AFTER fever goes down. Rash subsides after 2-3 days. Child may act quite normal.
Cause - virus
Contagious? - yes, but ONLY to other children under 3.
Reoccurring? - no, once you get it once, you are immune to it
Treatment - baby tylenol for the fever, plenty of water and rest. Virus will run its course. Double check with the doctor just in case though.

My summer activities

In August, I went to 3rd Street Promenade with mommy daddy and grandma. I had my first McDonald's fries. They are so yummy. I wonder why mommy never gives me any...

I also went to the beach with my cousin Enzo, who came down to visit me from San Francisco

My 1st Ocean experience

Daddy took grandma kayaking today in Long Beach, so mommy played with me on the beach. I was not afraid to play in the ocean though, this water and sand thing is so fun, wanna play with me?

My 1st Summer Concert

Tonight I went to my first summer concert with mommy daddy, both grandmas and great-uncle Gary's family. We had lots of good food and I was just rocking in the concert. Check me out!!

Mystery House in San Jose

While in San Jose, we went to visit the Mystery House. I was more interested in practicing my walking skills there. I was very happy there!!

Strawberry Picking @ half Moon Bay

When we were up in San Francisco for a wedding, we stayed at my 2nd cousin Enzo's house. Enzo is just 5 months older than me, but he is so tall and handsome already. We all went strawberry picking at an organic berries field in Half Moon Bay, it was such a beautiful day, and I think I had my share of strawberries for the next year :)

Amber's 1st steps

Amber and her dance

I love music these days. Whenever I hear music, I would dance with my arms. Check out my moves! I even clap for myself afterward, ain't I great? :)

Happy 1st Birthday Amber!!

Amber's 1st bday

Click on the Cake to see all the birthday pictures

Today I am 1 year old.
Last year today, mommy went through 19 hours of labor to bring me to this wonderful world.
I am 28 3/4" tall, 19.3 lb.
I can walk a couple of steps without support.
I can point at things I want.
I can dance to music, clap with everyone, put my hands up on command, and drink from a straw.
My 2 top teeth are starting to show a little bit.
I am still drinking mommy's milk - direct! I dislike bottles - straight up refuse them.
I love all sorts of veggies, especially broccoli and tofu.
I love people!

That's why mommy and daddy invited all the friends and family to come celebrate my big day with me.

There was a big water slide in the back yard, a taco guy that made fresh tacos for everyone, the Wii for the big kids, poker and video-game machine for the uncles and aunties, train table and all my toys to share with the little kids like me, and a ton of food!

Check me out in my pictures! Mommy and Daddy are so proud that I clapped after everyone sang the Happy Birthday song to me :)

I'm so happy I am ONE!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

My 1st July 4th Celebrations

For my first July 4th celebration, we went to the Rosebowl in Pasadena. It was super hot when we got there at 4pm, so auntie Caroline gave me her sunglasses and mommy gave me her baseball hat. But I think I look cool with or without them :)

By the way, I was also fashionably dressed in red, white and blue, the color of the American flag, that's what people do for July 4!

Learning to walk

I'm almost 1 year old, but I'm still not walking.
When I went to Scott's birthday party, I found this shopping cart that helps me walk. I practiced the whole time I was there.

When I got home, mommy pulled out my Pooh car so I could walk from one end of the house to the other. I think crawling is faster than walking, but I think walking is cool. I want to master it so I can walk tall like Annabelle!

Swimming for the first time

Mommy and daddy took me swimming for the first time at Auntie Irene's pool. I was a little scared but I did ok. I think I am more interested in the kids in the water than in swimming :)

Trip to Louisiana

Mommy and daddy took me to Auntie Tammy's wedding in Louisiana. The whole family flew out there and stayed at great-uncle Tony's house. It was a lot of fun! I enjoyed dancing at the wedding too!!

11 months Amber

I'm 11 months old now. I think I'm about 28" long, and weight about 19 lbs.

I'm a super fast crawler, and I cruise sometimes, but not often. I like to crawl up the stairs, but only if someone is following me. Mommy says it's good to be careful all the time.

I can clap my hands, give high-fives, kiss goodbyes, and kiss people I like on the cheek.

I'm still drinking mommy's milk, and I still don't like bottles (since last month).

I like to stick to mommy as much as possible, but I enjoy having daddy give me a bath everyday, too.

I like books that I can flip, and I like to check out the back of everything.

I can say mama, dada, maaaah, ahhh, nananana, and sometimes I say my own name 'Aber' (I can't pronounce the 'm').

I love to self-feed on solids. I love cheerios and puffs. I love broccoli and tofu just like daddy. I love drinking water from a sippy cup. I love all fruits, including watermelon, papaya, honeydew, bananas, and cherries.

And I'm still teethless :)

Thanks Mah-Mah for a wonderful trip!

Grandma took us everywhere in HK while we were there. I had an awesome time. Thanks Mah-Mah!!

Subway HK

I was hanging on in the subway cause that seems to be what everyone else is doing. It is a little high for me, but I think I can do it!





After a day of playing, I'm passed out sitting on top of daddy

Tricky or Smart Amber?

哈哈,不知是把拔太好騙了,還是我太聰明了. 真好玩 :)

Look! I can trick daddy with a bun! Am I smart or what!

Great-Grandparents old village

While we were in Asia, we visited great-grandparents (daddy's grandparents) old houses back in China. Grandma's village is now a tourist attraction! and I saw the baby crib and baby toy that grandma used to sleep in and play with being displayed. How odd... I even saw great-great-grandpa's picture, daddy's eyes look just like his! They say he was a good looking man, I should ask mommy what is a 'man'...

生日快樂 承芳姐姐！！

Happy 1st birthday Annabelle!!

承芳姐姐過一歲生日, 外公請了一大桌叔公叔婆伯公瀋婆舅公舅婆姑丈姑婆叔叔伯伯瀋瀋表哥表舅...反正一大桌我第一次見的長輩. 我因為從國外回來,也拿了好多紅包, 不過紅包沒氣球好玩, 我和Annabelle玩的不亦樂乎. 有個姑婆大概看我太可愛, 竟然趁大家不注意把我抱到外面去, 把老爸老媽嚇出一身冷汗呢!

大阿姨買了兩個超可愛豬豬及狗狗造型的蛋糕(雖然我和Anna都是豬寶寶),天啊,怎麼捨得切呢!!不過媽咪好討厭, 都不給我摸摸豬豬及狗狗.

Annabelle姐姐,祝你長的健康可愛,過的快樂平安,然後最希望我們能常見面喔!!

For Anna's 1st bday and my first visit to Taiwan, grandpa invited a whole bunch of relatives, literally one huge table of like 30 people. I got a lot of red envelopes from all the great-uncles, great-aunts, aunts, uncles, etc.
Auntie Lisa (Anna's mommy, my aunt) bought 2 super cute cakes!! A 3D piggy and a 3D doggie. They are just so cute! But mommy won't let me touch :(

Anna and I had lots of fun playing with the balloons. In case you don't know what a balloon is, it is a round thing that flies in the air, it won't fall down and I think it likes to play pee-ka-boo with me :) Check us out!